Materiality & Value of Art In Flux (46 books)

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Nonfiction books that primarily focus on the material and economic history of art, such as forgeries, heists, museum operations, and the people who read and write about art. (This is NOT a list of museum guides, novels about art, or books about specific artists or art movements. Curation history/theft and heists/art world gossip ONLY. PLEASE do not vote for books that do not meet these criteria - they will be removed.)

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1	The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by Lynn H. Nicholas 3.93 avg rating — 7,786 ratings score: 782, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel 3.81 avg rating — 53,085 ratings score: 388, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Karkhana: A Studio in Rajasthan by Waswo X. Waswo (Goodreads Author) 4.96 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art by Don Thompson 3.87 avg rating — 6,181 ratings score: 296, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	I Was Vermeer: The Rise and Fall of the Twentieth Century's Greatest Forger by Frank Wynne 3.90 avg rating — 1,621 ratings score: 286, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Breakfast at Sotheby's: An A-Z of the Art World by Philip Hook 3.97 avg rating — 870 ratings score: 275, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures by Robert K. Wittman 3.84 avg rating — 10,511 ratings score: 259, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art by Laney Salisbury 3.93 avg rating — 6,747 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton 3.61 avg rating — 73,094 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Value of Art: Money, Power, Beauty by Michael Findlay (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 575 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Hot Art: Chasing Thieves and Detectives Through the Secret World of Stolen Art by Joshua Knelman 3.83 avg rating — 575 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Making the Mummies Dance: Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Thomas Hoving 3.85 avg rating — 1,081 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	A Real Van Gogh: How the Art World Struggles with Truth by Henk Tromp 3.80 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Museum of the Missing: A History of Art Theft by Simon Houpt 3.82 avg rating — 1,329 ratings score: 188, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Medici Conspiracy: The Illicit Journey of Looted Antiquities--From Italy's Tomb Raiders to the World's Greatest Museums by Peter Watson 3.84 avg rating — 792 ratings score: 179, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Art of the Deal: Contemporary Art in a Global Financial Market by Noah Horowitz 3.60 avg rating — 88 ratings score: 176, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Art and Crime: Exploring the Dark Side of the Art World by Noah Charney (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 3.80 avg rating — 45 ratings score: 172, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Art of Forgery: The Minds, Motives and Methods of Master Forgers by Noah Charney (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 730 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century by Edward Dolnick 3.88 avg rating — 5,244 ratings score: 166, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Sotheby's: The Inside Story by Peter Watson 3.57 avg rating — 148 ratings score: 164, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World by Anthony M. Amore (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 1,238 ratings score: 128, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Irish Game: A True Story of Crime and Art by Matthew Hart (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 725 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Master Pieces: The Curator's Game by Thomas Hoving 3.86 avg rating — 115 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Accidental Picasso Thief: The True Story of a Reverse Heist, Outrunning the FBI, and Fleeing the Boston Mob by Whit Rummel 3.53 avg rating — 30 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	False Impressions: The Hunt for Big-Time Art Fakes by Thomas Hoving 3.69 avg rating — 214 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance by DE WAAL EDMUND 3.97 avg rating — 66,297 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World's Richest Museum by Jason Felch 4.05 avg rating — 2,194 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece by Noah Charney (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 1,026 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Art Detective: Fakes, Frauds, and Finds and the Search for Lost Treasures by Philip Mould 3.75 avg rating — 1,595 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Art Theft and the Case of the Stolen Turners by Sandy Nairne 3.50 avg rating — 48 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Lost Lives, Lost Art: Jewish Collectors, Nazi Art Theft, and the Quest for Justice by Melissa Müller 4.13 avg rating — 123 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 7,936 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Venus Fixers: The Remarkable Story of the Allied Soldiers Who Saved Italy's Art During World War II by Ilaria Dagnini Brey 3.78 avg rating — 420 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Mauve: How One Man Invented a Colour That Changed the World by Simon Garfield 3.68 avg rating — 1,930 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Fake: Forgery and its Place in Art by Sandor Radnoti 4.25 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren by Jonathan Lopez (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 8,545 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Deceivers: Art Forgery and Identity in the Nineteenth Century by Aviva Briefel 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Saving Mona Lisa: The Battle to Protect the Louvre and Its Treasures During World War II by Gerri Chanel (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 572 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Females in the Frame: Women, Art, and Crime by Penelope Jackson 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli 3.38 avg rating — 685 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Plundering Beauty: A History of Art Crime during War by Arthur Tompkins 3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Hitler's Last Hostages: Looted Art and the Soul of the Third Reich by Mary M. Lane (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 205 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Work of Art in the World: Civic Agency and Public Humanities by Doris Sommer 3.74 avg rating — 50 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Supermodel and the Brillo Box: Back Stories and Peculiar Economics from the World of Contemporary Art by Don Thompson 3.83 avg rating — 286 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else by David Balzer 3.59 avg rating — 375 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World by Roger Atwood 3.85 avg rating — 364 ratings score: 44, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars